Cement mixing apparatus



Sept. 8, 1936. J g WES I 2,054,043

CEMENT MIXING APPARATUS Filed July 11, 1955 wa o6 Efijaas INVENTOR TTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,054,043 CEMENT MIXING APPARATUS Joseph E. Pipes, Olney, Tex. Application July 11, 1935, Serial No. 30,785

1 Claim. (c1. ac-73) This invention relates to cement mixing apparatus and it has particular reference to an apparatus designed especially for mixing cement preparatory to use in cementing wells.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified embodying a structure which can be readily and thoroughly cleaned after having been used, thereby to prevent accumulations, of cement therein,

which, having become set, renders the machine diflicult to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact machine which is an attachment in the cementing of wells and particularly oil wells since it is necessary that the apparatus be transported from place to place on a truck or the like and it is sometimes required that the apparatus be moved great distances in inclement weather. The

compactness of the present invention, its ease of operation and cleaning renders the same exceptionally advantageous for the purpose for which it has been designed.

Still another object of the invention resides in a novel form of mixing element, the construction being designed for rapidly and thoroughly mixing the water and cement in a confined space preparatory to its introduction into the well. Moreover,

the invention includes a novel form of water control which prevents clogging of the throat of the mixer hopper and supplies the mixer continuously with a predetermined quantity of water at a uniform flow.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement ofparts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a mixing apparatus constructed according to the present invention with portions broken away to show internal parts and which further shows fragmentarily the water supply.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the mixing element.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on lines 3-3 on Figure 2. 1

Figure 4 is .a fragmentary view in vertical section showing the hopper and water control.

Figure 5 is a detail view in elevation showing the agitating element disposed in the throat of the hopper, and I Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the water control inlet.

Continuing with a' more detailed description of the drawing, I designates a hopper into which neat cement is initially deposited preparatory to mixing with water for introduction into a well.

Ordinarily, a mixing cylinder is employed, necessitating a shaft having mixing paddles thereon. 5 The present invention dispenses with both the cylinder and the shaft and provides in lieu thereof a depending chamber 2 having a rounded bottom 3, and is of a diameter not exceeding that of the throat 4 of the hopper I. The fact that the hop- 10 per is bowl shaped or has a rounded bottom and does not extend beyond the limits of the hopper throat, enables the operator to see and thoroughly cleanse the mixing chamber of accumulations of cement to prevent clogging after an operation of 1 cementing a well.

The mixing element confined for operation in the mixing bowl 2 is composed of a circular band 5 of semi-circular shape in cross-section, which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft 20 6. A smaller circular band I is also and similarly secured to the shaft 8 and is positioned in a plane passing through the axis of the shaft and at an angle to the plane in which the band 5- is positioned. A still smaller band 8 is also welded 25 to the shaft 6 and is likewise disposed at an angle to the planes in which bands 5 and I are positioned. This arrangement is such that a thorough mix of cement and water within the bowl 2 is obtained yet does not allow accumulations of the 30 mixture inthe bowl.

In order to insure uniform flow of the cement as it is fed into the mixing bowl, an agitating element in the form of a shaft 9 is provided which has a series of radially extending pins or fingers 35 III which are effective in continually feeding the cement into the mixing bowl so as to break up any clods or lumps of cement which might be formed by moisture.

- During the feeding of cement into the bowl 3. 40

water is added through the medium of a pipe II, shown in Figure 1, from the liquid reserve tank I2, shown fragmentarily in Figure 1. The water control is comprised of a chamber I2 into which water is initially introduced through pipe I I from 45 the reservoir I3. This chamber communicates with the hopper I through an opening I4. partially covering which is a plate I5, shown in detail in Figure 6.

The plate I5 is so disposed over the water inlet 5 opening II, that water is directed downward in a fan shaped spray. thereby continuously flushing the hopper and preventing accumulations of cement in the hopper throat.

After having been thoroughly mixed in the bowl a 3, the mixture is deposited into the receptacle or sump l6 through the discharge pipe l1 from which it is removed and conveyed to the well by pum suction through pipe l8.

What is claimed is:

The combination in a cement mixing apparatus, a bowl, having a spherical bottom and a hopper whose throat conforms to the top of said bowl, 9. water inlet and control in the throat of said hopper, a shaft rotatably disposed in the top of said bowl having radially disposed fingers throughout its length, whereby to agitate and effect transfer of cement from said hopper into said bowl, a mixing element in said bowl comprising a plurality of circular bands of different diameters each being positioned on a shaft in a plane passing through the axis of said shaft and at angles relative to the planes in which the companion bands are positioned on said shaft and means for discharging the mixture from said bowl.

JQSEPH E. PIPES. 

